To the low CC/small bike crowd that recommends bikes to ppl.

Message

earwig · #1 Unread post by **earwig** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:20 pm

Do yourselves and others that you recommend bikes to a favor… before you tell someone that a smaller bike with less engine displacement/CCs is all they will ever need or how it can keep up with anyone else just fine; test ride a larger bike or a faster sport bike (if you haven’t already). First of all you do not know what you are missing if you haven’t ridden a faster/more powerful/”larger” bike and you shouldn’t be making recommendations to others about what they should ride. My first bike was a Honda Shadow 750… I mostly ride with 3 guys, one with an 1800cc Honda Gold Wing, one with a Honda Shadow 1100 and one with a Harley Lowrider 1200. When we went for rides in the mountains, long highway stretches or with our wives on the back as passengers keeping up with the other guys was not easy. Of course they slowed down and made sure I didn’t lag too far behind but it was always a challenge. On the highway or in the mountains/hills with a lower CC bike you have to keep the RPMs up higher to go faster/have more power which causes a lot of vibration and just adds the fatigue you get from riding a bike in the first place. A higher CC bike in most cases will provide a smoother ride, smoother/faster acceleration and an overall more comfortable ride. And in my opinion a lot more “fun”.

Let me end by saying, I am not recommending that brand new riders go out and start on large heavy bikes. I am just saying that there is life after 800cc cruisers and 500cc sport bikes.

#2 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:29 pm

Hmmm,

First bike:

LS650 Savage: Sold because of ergos
33hp, and 15ftlbs torque

Second Bike:

Honda 599: Love it to bits
95hp, and 45ftlbs torque

My first kept up with my Uncles Honda GL1800 just fine unless he decided he wanted to exceed the speed limit by more then 40kmh...

I could stick with my Aunt on her V-star 1100 without an issue.

My second bike leaves him in the dust if I so choose.

You do NOT NEED large displacement bikes to handle the roads, and a good rider on a small bike can smoke a bad rider on a big bike through the twisties without a problem.

Unless of course you feel the need to ride 50-100km/h over the speed limit. In which case I think you shouldn't be on a bike at all.

earwig · #3 Unread post by **earwig** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:41 pm

Sev... Yes you can keep up if he allows you to catch up... your acceleration could not have been even close to his... and if that is what you are saying... then you are also saying there is no difference in your old bike and the 103 horsepower of a Gold Wing... how fun is playing catch up all the time?

I didn't say you couldn't handle the roads with a low displacement bike... did you read the part about carrying a passenger or having to deal with higher vibration because of having to stay higher in the RPMs? Have you ridden a larger bike? A Ninja 250 can do everything your 599 can do... but unless you have ridden a larger bike for a while so you have something to compare to you are the exact person I am talking about in this post.

#4 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:46 pm

...

So I need to ride a 120hp supersport to say they are required for highway?

earwig · #5 Unread post by **earwig** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:50 pm

huh? No... but try going from your 95 horsepower bike back down to a 40 HP bike... then realize that is what you are telling people to stick with

And again... I never said you can't ride a small bike on the highway... but it is less enjoyable.... and so is carrying a passenger... Can you carry a passenger, ride in mountains and ride on a highway with a small bike? Of course... My point is... a larger/faster/more powerful bike can do all of those with much less effort and more comfortably

Sevulturus wrote:...

So I need to ride a 120hp supersport to say they are required for highway?

#6 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:56 pm

Am I a better rider for spending 1 season on that 33hp bike and learning to wring all the power out of it?

YES!

Am I telling them to STICK with that bike FOREVER?

NO!

earwig · #7 Unread post by **earwig** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:58 pm

Heck yeah you are... I totally think people should start on smaller bikes to learn skills and only move up when they are comfortable enough... This post had nothing to do with new riders... but telling people "this is all you will ever need" etc... is what I am talking about.

Sevulturus wrote:Am I a better rider for spending 1 season on that 33hp bike and learning to wring all the power out of it?

YES!

Shiv · #8 Unread post by **Shiv** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:03 pm

No. No, telling them that that's all they will ever need is correct.

Technically an EX250 is all you will ever really need.

What comes into play is desire. Desire for a faster bike, a better looking bike, a more powerful bike, what have you.

You'll never use the full power of even an EX500 (top speed ~120) on a street (legally mind you). You upgrade because you want a bigger bike. Not because you NEED a bigger bike. Because you desire a bigger bike. Ego, looks, what have you.

earwig · #9 Unread post by **earwig** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:06 pm

Ok true... maybe I should edit my post, but I think everyone knows what I mean

There is a lot more than just speed with a bike

I NEED more than a 250 to accelerate the way I like to

Shiv wrote:No. No, telling them that that's all they will ever need is correct.

Technically an EX250 is all you will ever really need.

What comes into play is desire. Desire for a faster bike, a better looking bike, a more powerful bike, what have you.

You'll never use the full power of even an EX500 (top speed ~120) on a street (legally mind you). You upgrade because you want a bigger bike. Not because you NEED a bigger bike. Because you desire a bigger bike. Ego, looks, what have you.

#10 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:09 pm

But you don't NEED to accelerate like that, nor do you need the top speed of your bike you WANT too.